Building a strong Section 508 program starts with having the right team in place. Clear, well-defined roles ensure accountability, consistent application of accessibility standards, and effective collaboration across your organization. This page provides sample position descriptions for key IT accessibility roles, including program managers and accessibility tester. These examples are designed to help federal agencies develop or refine staffing structures that support compliance with Section 508 requirements and technical standards throughout the IT lifecycle.
PD Tracking Number: 00AB000
Series, Title and Grade: [Insert Series, Title and Grade]
Position Title: Section 508 Accessibility Tester
Department: [Insert Agency/Office Name], [Insert Location or Remote]
Position Type: [Specify full time or part time]
Security Clearance: [Specify if required]
Position Description
Instructions: Write a high-level overview of the position and key responsibilities and qualifications.
This position is located within the [Agency], [Office Name], [Division Name]. The incumbent serves as a Section 508 Accessibility Tester and consultant to senior level management and staff and is responsible for ensuring that digital products, services, and electronic content developed, procured, or maintained by [Agency Name] comply with the Section 508 Standards. This individual will support information and communication technology (ICT) Section 508 conformance validation testing, defect reporting, remediation planning and guidance, and training efforts across the agency's enterprise.
Salaries & Wages
Instructions: Consider and establish the position's pay grade at a level that reflects the role and responisbilities required of the position in accordance with best practices, applicable standards, and regulations.
Major Duties
Instructions: Consider and select the key responsibilities for the position you are developing per agency requirements.
- Conduct comprehensive Section 508 conformance validation testing of web content, media (audio, video, multimedia), and electronic documents (PDFs, Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
- [If applicable] Conduct testing of software and mobile applications.
- [If applicable] Conduct testing of kiosks and hardware.
- Apply Section 508 Standards and WCAG 2.0 Level AA success criteria using manual and automated testing techniques per agency policy.
- Use standardized federal testing methods, including [insert approved Section 508 testing methodology(ies)].
- Generate Section 508 test reports, including defect severity and remediation recommendations.
- Provide Section 508 guidance and technical support to internal teams and stakeholders.
- Engage with content creators and developers to guide remediation efforts.
- Track and report Section 508 testing status, remediation progress, and metrics to support program governance.
- Review Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs) and provide feedback for procurement decision making.
- Collaborate with developers, content creators, program managers, and procurement officials to improve Section 508 compliance.
- [If applicable] Deliver training or workshops on ICT accessibility and Section 508 requirements.
- [If applicable] Support integration of Section 508 conformance in agency SDLC, Agile processes, and acquisition workflows.
Qualifications
Instructions: Consider and select the minimum and preferred qualifications for the position you are developing per agency requirements.
Minimum
Education & Experience
- [Insert agency’s minimum education requirements such as Bachelor’s degree]
- Minimum 3 years of ICT accessibility testing experience. [Scale up/down depending on role level]
Knowledge and Skills
- Deep understanding of Revised Section 508 Standards and WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
- [If applicable] Proficiency testing WCAG 2.2 Level AA.
- Proficiency with manual testing procedures including keyboard-only navigation and code review.
- [If applicable] Proficiency with Assistive Technology (screen readers, zoom, voice dictation).
- Familiarity with accessibility testing tools:
- [Insert manual test tools, e.g., Accessibility Name and Description Inspector (ANDI)]
- [Insert automated test tools used by the agency]
- Expertise in evaluating and creating Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs).
- Ability to document and interpret test results, and advise on remediation techniques.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with technical and non-technical staff.
Preferred
- Familiarity with federal ICT accessibility policy and governance (FAR, 21st Century IDEA, OMB Memos).
- [If applicable] DHS Section 508 Trusted Tester Certification (TT v5 or newer).
- [If applicable] Other certifications (e.g., SCRUM Master, ICT accessibility certifications).
- [If applicable] Experience in Agile, DevSecOps, or CI/CD environments.
- [If applicable] Experience training others in ICT accessibility best practices.
- [If applicable] Expertise in remediating documents (PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
How Will You be Evaluated
Instructions: Consider and establish the knowledge, skills, and abilities metrics for the position you are developing per agency requirements.
How to Apply
Instructions: Provide instructions for indivduals to apply for the position, and any information that could assist applicants in preparing their resume for a government position—such as Resume Writing presented by USAJobs and the Office of Personel Management (OPM).
Agency Contact Information
Instructions: Insert applicable information for applicants to contact the agency's hiring official.
PD Tracking Number: 00AB000
Series, Title and Grade: [Insert Series, Title and Grade]
Position Title: Section 508 Program Manager
Department: [Insert Agency/Office Name]
Position Type: [Specify full time or part time], [Insert Location or Remote]
Security Clearance: [Specify if required]
Position Description
Instructions: Write a high-level overview of the position and key responsibilities and qualifications.
This position is located within the [Agency], [Office Name], [Division Name]. The incumbent serves as the Section 508 Program Managers and consultant to senior level management and manages Section 508 Program on behalf of the agency CIO (or designee), to include developing and maintaining agency policies, guidebooks, and disseminating best practices. Through oversight of IT accessibility programs, the incumbent ensures effective planning and management of the accessibility of information and communication technology (ICT) systems in compliance with best practices, applicable standards, and regulations. For purposes of this position description, “accessibility” shall have the definition in 29 U.S.C. 794d (a) (1) and NOT that provided in the OPM Job Family Standard for [Job Series Name], [Job Series Number].
Salaries & Wages
Instructions: Consider and establish the position's pay grade at a level that reflects the role and responisbilities required of the position in accordance with best practices, applicable standards, and regulations—including M-24-08 Strengthening Digital Accessibility and the Management of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Major Duties
Instructions: Consider and select the key responsibilities for the position you are developing per agency requirements.
- Leads and manages the agencywide Section 508 program to include developing and maintaining agency policies, guidance, and best practices, and conducting Section 508 governance activities.
- Establishes and implements the agency's policies, procedures, and practices to ensure that ICT procured, developed, maintained, or used meets applicable Section 508 requirements.
- Provides Section 508 guidance to agency programs and project teams for buying, building, maintaining and using technology products and services.
- Leads compliance management activities for digital services and technology covered under the Section 508 law, including:
- Addressing compliance requirements in design, acquisition, development, and maintenance life cycles and processes.
- Ensuring conformance claims are validated.
- Develops policy, supports budget formulation, and addresses issues associated with digital accessibility with agency subcomponents, if applicable.
- Coordinates and collaborates with other staff responsible for Rehabilitation Act compliance, including the provision of reasonable accommodations. Key stakeholders include:
- Technology providers and development teams
- Operations and service delivery components
- Acquisition teams
- Communications and training groups
- Civil rights and reasonable accommodation officials
- Human resource staff
- Legal staff
- Other federal IT accessibility and Section 508 program managers
- Promotes Section 508 awareness through training and outreach activities and advocates leverage shared resources.
- Leads technical discussions, meetings, conferences, demonstrations, and negotiations and negotiates to improve accessibility of agency IT products and solutions.
- Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to promote accessibility and with customers or business partners.
- Analyzes and re-engineers business processes to improve efficacy and efficiency.
- Provides consultation to, or participates in, agency capital planning and business case development and IT governance to ensure ICT activities appropriately integrate Section 508 compliance across the IT and acquisition lifecycles.
- Provides consultation and advice on development and implementation of digital accessibility plans, including development of remediation plans, risk analyses, and review of contractor accessibility provisions.
- Provides support for Section 508 testing and for remediating accessible electronic content, such as documents and forms, to conform to the Section 508 standards.
- Oversees the requirements planning, procurement, design, modification, integration, testing and deployment of accessible ICT.
- Tests ICT, such as large or complex web applications or electronic content, for Section 508 requirements and accessibility using a regimented test methodology that includes automated web scanning and testing, manual code inspection, and user testing with assistive technology, and delivers design recommendations to improve the accessibility of ICT.
- Coordinates the collection of data to complete the annual Section 508 Assessment.
- Develops and implements agencywide policy that ensures 508 compliance and outlines validation measures that can be tracked and processed.
- Assesses and seeks to address the needs of the public and employees with disabilities with regards to ICT accessibility, including:
- Assessing the maturity of the agency IT accessibility and Section 508 program and reporting to OMB on compliance program activities.
- Responding to accessibility concerns and complaints submitted to your agency.
- Establishing tracking procedures to document agency successes and remediation efforts for Section 508 compliance.
- Reviews and approves ICT products and services for conformance to the Section 508 standards.
- Reviews technology solicitations for proper inclusion of Section 508 requirements.
- Serves as a Section 508 subject matter expert (SME) for technical evaluation of solicitations.
- Manages and coordinates:
- Assistance to acquisition officials and developers in procuring or building accessible ICT.
- Evaluation of web content, software, and hardware for Section 508 conformance.
- Section 508 training and outreach.
- Creation and review of electronic documents for Section 508 conformance.
- Provision of alternative formats.
- Explains technical and functional accessibility concepts to technical and nontechnical personnel verbally, in written communications, and through briefings and formal presentations.
- Encourages professional development and recognition of accessibility professionals across the agency.
Qualifications
Instructions: Consider and select the minimum and preferred qualifications for the position you are developing per agency requirements.
Minimum
Education & Experience
- [Insert agency’s minimum education requirements such as Bachelor’s degree]
- Minimum 3 years of ICT accessibility testing experience. [Scale up/down depending on role level]
Knowledge and Skills
- Accountability
- Attention to Detail
- Conflict Management
- Creative Thinking
- Customer Service
- Decision Making
- External Awareness
- Flexibility
- Influencing and Negotiating
- Information Management
- Integrity and Honesty
- Interpersonal Skills
- Manages Human Resources
- Manages Resources
- Leadership
- Oral Communication
- Organizational Awareness
- Partnering
- Planning and Evaluating
- Political Savvy
- Reading Comprehension
- Reasoning
- Strategic Thinking
- Teaching Others
- Team Building
- Teamwork
- Technical Competence
- Technical Credibility
- Technical Application
- Writing
Preferred
- Project Management Professional (PMP), Trusted Tester Certification, and International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP)
- Acquisition Strategy
- Change Management
- Compliance
- Financial Management
- Knowledge Management
- Performance Measurement
- Program Management
- Project Management
- Quality Management
- Requirements Management
- Risk Management
- Schedule Management
- Scope Management
- Stakeholder Management
How Will You be Evaluated
Instructions: Consider and establish the knowledge, skills, and abilities metrics for the position you are developing per agency requirements.
How to Apply
Instructions: Provide instructions for indivduals to apply for the position, and any information that could assist applicants in preparing their resume for a government position—such as Resume Writing presented by USAJobs and the Office of Personel Management (OPM).
Agency Contact Information
Instructions: Insert applicable information for applicants to contact the agency's hiring official.
Reviewed/Updated: September 2025
